Tom's Trackside Trains

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t there an online store?

While it’s not the whole store, we will have items listed for sale on our website. So far, we don’t have the means to handle online ordering. Although the store has limited hours, we spend a lot of time outside of that in handling orders and bookkeeping. We’re wishing for more than 7 days a week to get things done. Not.

 

In the meantime, come down and visit us!

 

Can I still order from you electronically or by mail?

Definitely. You can write, call (650) 692-9724, fax (650) 692-9725, or email us at tomstrackside@aol.com. If not in stock, we can order it for you. We accept major credit cards, money orders or checks in US funds (allow time for checks to clear) or PayPal.

 

Do you have gift certificates?

Yes! Contact us as above.

 

Do you do DCC?

We speak DCC fluently and stand ready to answer all your DCC questions. We have systems set up on our N and H0 layouts to demonstrate how DCC works and how it can enhance your railroading. We also do decoder installations. See our DCC page.

 

Why N scale?

That’s our main focus but not the only thing we do. It may seem like a niche, but there are many N enthusiasts around. There are great advantages to the size including scenic possibilities and operation in a relatively small space. Tom has been in N scale since its earliest days.

 

I do H0, O, everything but N. What about me?

We do have a good selection of other scales/gauges; see our H0 page, for example. If we don’t have something in stock, we will be happy to order it for you. Our resident expert in those scales is Aldo. We like real trains, too, but they won’t fit in the shop.

 

What’s Nn3?

That’s narrow gauge in N scale, running on Z scale track. You’ve probably seen Micro Trains© cars plus locos built from Z scale engines running at shows and shown in magazines. We have some of the newest items in Nn3 --- see our Nn3 page.

 

I’m just starting out in model railroading. Can you help me?

That’s your advantage over an internet-only store. As our customer, you can ask questions here and get hands-on demos. We’ll give you the info to make an informed purchase. We will help steer you around the pitfalls that the rest of us have stumbled into. We test run engines before we sell them. We also talk trains around here (as time allows).

 

I’m returning to model railroading after a long absence. Can you help me?

There’s so much that’s new out there, you will be amazed. We can bring you up to speed with the best and the newest. It will probably be even more fun than when you started!

 

What’s all this about the Western Pacific?

Tom is a big fan of the railroad. While he’s dedicated to (obsessed with?) stocking WP engines and cars, there is also a good number of other roads in stock with emphasis on the West, as you might expect. Undecs, too. Then again, if you haven’t decided on a road to model, check out our WP page for links to the historical society and other good stuff.